Backrooms 2026

 "Backrooms" directed by Kane Parsons is a movie I may not ever fully grasp.

For those that may be unaware, the whole concept of the backrooms originates from a picture posted to creepypasta. A room plastered with yellow wallpaper, worn carpet, and a layout that is impractical above all else. Despite the brightness of the yellow the image designs a feeling of dread and potential paranoia. The yellow wallpaper feels old and yet shows no signs of wear and tear. This image led to short stories, youtube short films, and of course the movie. 

 Getting back to the wallpaper specifically, it almost feels like the wallpaper we are shown in the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Gilmans. This would of course be at the beginning of the story to which I refer. The feeling of there being something physical that you can grasp as you struggle with the world around you shattering. It taunts the audience throughout the film, warning us that there is something else in the walls. Something we may never be able to release so that we may not feel fear.

The themes surrounding self-reflection are what resonated with me the most during. The film leads the audience on a journey of self-reflection while attempting to maintain its horror status. Clark, one of our main characters, is the best example of the audience being forced to self-reflect. A single alcoholic sleeping at his job with no community, Clark is trying to prove he is capable of change without actually putting any effort fourth. We see him attend therapy, we see him continue to drink, we see his fall behind on his bills, we hear him share his hatred for his situation. The entire time though, he never once blames himself. He blames his ex-wife, he blames her desire to better herself by attending schools, he blames the world for not giving him the architecture job of his dreams. He blames all of these things and complains without ever just trying to push through it to rise above. He never goes for architecture work, he never stops drinking, he never apologizes for his behavior. He just exists and continues as he is without any real desire to change. 

We of course see similar themes in Mary, but those are bit more spoiler esque so I'll spare you the details for the time being. 

Backrooms left me with more questions than answers, but I think it's important a film makes you pause to think about what you've watched. That means the filmmakers are doing their job, creating a story that everyone gets to enjoy and interpret in their own way.

If nothing else, let Backrooms serve as a reminder to be aware of what genre you are in. That and, don't be Clark. Be empowered to change your circumstances, the worst that could happen is you stay exactly as you are but maybe a little off. 

-Lucy